My spring break officially started as of 12pm yesterday. Instead of being at school, I had to attend a workshop for all art educators in our county; the workshop involved a brief meeting about budget cuts, and then the installation of their annual elementary school art show.
About the budget cuts: it's all over the papers that Duval County Public Schools has to make $86.6 million dollars worth of cuts (Thank you, Charlie Crist, Tallahassee, and co.). In the list of proposed cuts is a reduction in support to art, p.e., and music resource in elementary schools. I found out yesterday at our meeting that the proposal is to cut this support by 50%. Yikes. A few thoughts...
1) I LOVE how the arts or what is considered "extra-curricular" is always the first thing to go. It is not considered essential to a quality, well-rounded education. This is creating a system in which the right side of the brain is never exercised or challenged. Using half of your brain sounds like a good idea to me!!!! especially when it seems that in today's job market, employers expect you to use your creativity to solve problems, increase gains, etc.
2) I think I have known this for a long time, but it has become clearer in recent months that I work in an industry whose existence and value has to be defended constantly. This bothers me.
3) My guess is that IF this proposal goes through, they will cut the number of art educators in the elementary sector by 50%, reduce the frequency of resource classes, and make the positions itinerant . I also suppose that they would eliminate 1st-3rd year teachers and hand over their jobs by principle of seniority.
In the meantime, I am looking for other job opportunities, just in case. My principal said he should know more by mid April. Grrr.
As for now, I am visiting my parents for a few days. I plan to do nothing but frequent the beach, get a tan, and organize some things for that after-school arts program. Yes, it has been approved!!!
5 comments:
I think I have known this for a long time, but it has become clearer in recent months that I work in an industry whose existence and value has to be defended constantly. This bothers me.
One time I was talking to some other English instructors at my school regarding "assessment" and the idea that there should be some objective way to grade students' writing. I said, "Why don't art teachers have to go through these same questions? No one bugs them about grading objectively."
Someone responded: "Because they're too busy defending their existence in the curriculum."
I can't stand that people don't see the value in artistic expression, whether it's with a visual art, music, writing, or whatever. First, not to bring up the prison thing again, but if kids don't have a chance to be active and to paint occasionally, aren't we basically torturing them for 8 hours a day? Second, isn't there a slight possibility that the arts might enhance their education, making it easier for them to learn and connect to other subjects?
Ugh. I could go on. This comment was long enough. Hang in there, Catherine. I'm glad the after-school program is a go. Keep it up.
Thanks, kitkat. You're absolutely right. No kidding about 8 hrs. with no hands-on stimulation or abstract thought processes or critical thinking. Sometimes, I wonder if the entire education infrastructure of this country will collapse and start anew. It seems so wack! (sophisticated word, I know)
If I still have my job next year, I am planning on keeping a grade book and actually grading my students' projects even though they only get an "S" (satisfactory) or a "U" (unsatisfactory) on their report cards. Eh-hem, did I mention that the grade level teachers never consult me about what they give their students for art?
Thanks for your support and encouragement.
I wonder if there are any local artists in Jax (other than you, of course) that would be willing to come sometime and talk with the students about their craft (if the school would allow it). It might offer the students a chance to ask questions about what art can do for them professionally, personally, emotionally, etc. It might be a good lesson for other teachers too. .
We are on the same page! That is part of my plan for the remainder of the school year. I know a few African-American artists from college, and I think it would be great for the students to see that there are people from their ethnic background who practice art professionally. I also want to bring in a graffiti artist...only I haven't figured out how I'm going to present that without condoning it (even though I think graffiti is great, I don't want kids getting arrested for vandalism).
I could type more about how important it is for those kids to see African-American professionals (aside from teachers, football players, etc), but this is turning into another post. :)
You rock, sister.
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